Power conversion system

ABSTRACT

A power conversion system includes a transformer, a power conversion device for travel, a power conversion device for auxiliary power sources, an electrical storage device, and an auxiliary device. The power conversion device for travel converts AC power into power for travel and supplies it to a travel motor. The power conversion device for auxiliary power sources includes an AC to DC conversion unit which converts AC power into DC power, a power conversion unit for AC loads which converts the DC power into AC power and supplies it to an AC load, and a power conversion unit for DC loads which converts DC power to DC power and supplies it to a DC load. The electrical storage device is connected to power lines connecting DC power output terminals of the AC to DC conversion unit and DC power input terminals of both the power conversion units for AC and DC loads. The auxiliary device is connected to power lines connecting the power conversion device for auxiliary power sources and the electrical storage device and operates with power supplied from the electrical storage device.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a power conversionsystem.

Related Art

Power is not supplied from overhead wires to electric vehicles when theelectric vehicles pass through non-electric sections where no power issupplied to overhead wires. In this case, there is a possibility ofpower not being supplied to auxiliary devices such as compressors orblowers mounted in electric vehicles. Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication, First Publication No. 2010-215014 discloses a powerconversion device convert of the related art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a power conversion system 1according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an alternating current todirect current conversion unit for loads 110.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an auxiliary device group 600.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a power conversion system 1Aaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a power conversion system 1Baccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for switching atravel mode in an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing examples of carrier signals, modulatedwaves, and PWM signals in normal and emergency situations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a power conversion system according to an embodiment willbe described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a power conversion system 1according to the embodiment. The power conversion system 1 is mounted,for example, in a railway vehicle. The railway vehicle is an example ofan electric vehicle. High-voltage alternating current (AC) power issupplied to the power conversion system 1 from overhead wires via apower collector 400 and windings for travel 500 and 302 of a maintransformer. The power conversion system 1 converts the high-voltage ACpower into AC power for travel and supplies the AC power for travel to atravel motor M. This allows the power conversion system 1 to cause thetravel motor M to generate a travel torque, enabling travel of therailway vehicle. In the embodiment, the travel motor M is, for example,an induction motor.

Low-voltage AC power is also supplied to the power conversion system 1from the overhead wires via the power collector 400 and windings forloads 500 and 102 of the main transformer. The voltage of the AC powersupplied from the windings for loads 500 and 102 of the main transformeris lower than that of the AC power supplied from the windings for travel500 and 302 of the main transformer. The power conversion system 1converts the low-voltage AC power into AC power for loads and suppliesthe AC power for loads to an AC load L_(AC). This allows the powerconversion system 1 to drive the AC load L_(AC). In the embodiment, theAC load L_(AC) is a load of the railway vehicle other than the travelmotor M, and is, for example, an electronic device or the like thatoperates with an AC voltage of 100 V. In addition, the power conversionsystem 1 converts the low-voltage AC power into direct current (DC)power for loads and supplies the DC power for loads to a DC load L_(DC).This allows the power conversion system 1 to drive the DC load L_(DC).In the embodiment, the DC load L_(DC) is a load of the railway vehicleother than the travel motor M, and is, for example, an electronic devicethat operates with a DC voltage.

Further, the power conversion system 1 drives an auxiliary device group600 with the DC power based on the low-voltage AC power supplied fromthe overhead wires via the power collector 400 and the windings forloads 500 and 102 of the main transformer. The auxiliary device group600 includes, for example, compression devices such as compressors orblowers mounted in the railway vehicle.

The power conversion system 1 includes, for example, a power conversiondevice for auxiliary power sources 100, a battery device 200, and apower conversion device for travel 300.

The power conversion device for auxiliary power sources 100 includes,for example, an AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110, a DC to ACconversion unit for AC loads 120, a load power control unit 130, a DC toAC conversion unit for DC loads 160, and an AC to DC conversion unit forDC loads 170.

The AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 converts the low-voltage ACpower supplied from the power collector 400 via the windings for loads500 and 102 of the main transformer into DC power. FIG. 2 is a diagramshowing an example of the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110. The ACto DC conversion unit for loads 110 includes, for example, switchingelements 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, and 110 d, a gate control unit 110A, and avoltage sensor 110B. The switching elements 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, and 110d are connected between a positive electrode line and a negativeelectrode line. The switching elements 110 a, 110 b, 110 c and 110 dare, for example, insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs)incorporating diodes connected in antiparallel. The switching elements110 a, 110 b, 110 c, and 110 d may also be other types of switchingelements.

The gate control unit 110A provides gate signals to the gates of theswitching elements 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, and 110 d on the basis of boththe voltage of the low-voltage AC power detected by the voltage sensor110B and a command voltage supplied from the load power control unit130.

This allows the gate control unit 110A to switch the switching elements110 a, 110 b, 110 c, and 110 d between a conductive state and anon-conductive state such that the voltage of the DC power approachesthe command voltage. The AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 is notlimited to that of the example shown in FIG. 2 and may be any one of astep-up converter, a step-down converter, and a step-up/step-downconverter.

The DC to AC conversion unit for AC loads 120 is a switching circuitincluding a plurality of switching elements bridge-connected between apositive electrode line and a negative electrode line to which power issupplied. The DC to AC conversion unit for AC loads 120 is also calledan inverter. The switching elements are, for example, IGBTs. Other typesof switching elements may also be used as the switching elements. Underthe control of the load power control unit 130, the DC to AC conversionunit for AC loads 120 arbitrarily switches the switching elementsbetween a conductive state and a non-conductive state to convert the DCpower into AC power for loads.

A capacitor 122 is connected to the DC to AC conversion unit for ACloads 120 at its side of the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 inparallel with the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 and the DC toAC conversion unit for AC loads 120. The capacitance of the capacitor122 is set to a level allowing the DC to AC conversion unit for AC loads120 to supply stable power to the AC load L_(AC). That is, thecapacitance of the capacitor 122 need not be set so high that it cancompensate for absence of the supply of AC power for loads to the ACload L_(AC) when the railway vehicle travels in non-electric sectionswhere the power collector 400 stops supplying AC power. The non-electricsections are provided, for example, at intervals of a predetermineddistance in sections where the railway vehicle travels.

The AC power for loads produced through conversion by the DC to ACconversion unit for AC loads 120 is supplied to the AC load L_(AC) via acoil 142, a capacitor 144, and a transformer 146 and 148.

The load power control unit 130 is realized by a processor such as acentral processing unit (CPU) executing a program stored in a programmemory. In addition, some or all of these functional units may berealized by hardware such as large scale integration (LSI), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmablegate array (FPGA), or the like. The load power control unit 130operates, for example, by being supplied with the operating power of 100V produced through conversion by the power conversion device forauxiliary power sources 100.

The load power control unit 130 controls the AC to DC conversion unitfor loads 110, the DC to AC conversion unit for AC loads 120, the DC toAC conversion unit for DC loads 160, and the AC to DC conversion unitfor DC loads 170.

Similar to the DC to AC conversion unit for AC loads 120 describedabove, the DC to AC conversion unit for DC loads 160 is a switchingcircuit including a plurality of switching elements bridge-connectedbetween a positive electrode line and a negative electrode line to whichpower is supplied. The DC to AC conversion unit for DC loads 160converts DC power into AC power by switching the switching elementsbetween a conductive state and a non-conductive state.

A capacitor 162 is connected to the DC to AC conversion unit for DCloads 160 at its side of the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 inparallel with the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 and the DC toAC conversion unit for DC loads 160. The capacitance of the capacitor162 is set to a level allowing the DC to AC conversion unit for DC loads160 to supply stable power to the AC to DC conversion unit for DC loads170 downstream thereof. The capacitance of the capacitor 162 may be thesame as or different from that of the capacitor 122.

The AC power produced through conversion by the DC to AC conversion unitfor DC loads 160 is supplied to the AC to DC conversion unit for DCloads 170 via the transformer 164 and 166. The transformer 164 and 166,for example, steps down the voltage of the AC power produced throughconversion by the DC to AC conversion unit for DC loads 160 to about 100V.

The AC to DC conversion unit for DC loads 170 converts the AC powersupplied from the DC to AC conversion unit for DC loads 160 via thetransformer 164 and 166 into DC power. For example, the AC to DCconversion unit for DC loads 170 converts the AC power into DC power.Similar to the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110, the AC to DCconversion unit for DC loads 170 may be configured as shown in FIG. 2described above.

The DC power produced through conversion by the AC to DC conversion unitfor DC loads 170 is supplied to the DC load L_(DC) via a coil 172 and acapacitor 174.

The battery device 200 is connected to power lines which connect DCpower output terminals of the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 andDC power input terminals of both the DC to AC conversion unit for ACloads 120 and the DC to AC conversion unit for DC loads 160. The batterydevice 200 is, for example, a battery having a low insulated separationvoltage. The battery device 200 is, for example, a storage battery unitin which storage battery cells such as lithium ion batteries areconnected in series or in parallel.

An auxiliary device group 600 is connected to power lines which connectthe power conversion device for auxiliary power sources 100 and thebattery device 200. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of theauxiliary device group 600. DC power is supplied to the auxiliary devicegroup 600. DC power discharged by the battery device 200 may be suppliedto the auxiliary device group 600, but the present invention is notlimited to this and DC power produced through conversion by the AC to DCconversion unit for loads 110 may be supplied thereto. The auxiliarydevice group 600 may also be supplied with power obtained by combiningDC power discharged by the battery device 200 and DC power producedthrough conversion by the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110.

The auxiliary device group 600 includes, for example, a DC typeauxiliary device 610 and a three-phase AC type auxiliary device 620. TheDC type auxiliary device 610 is an auxiliary device that operates withDC power supplied thereto. The three-phase AC type auxiliary device 620is an auxiliary device that operates with three-phase AC power. Athree-phase AC power converter 622 is provided in the middle of powerlines which connect the battery device 200 and the AC to DC conversionunit for loads 110 to the three-phase AC type auxiliary device 620. Thethree-phase AC power converter 622 is a switching circuit including aplurality of switching elements. The three-phase AC power converter 622switches the switching elements between a conductive state and anon-conductive state according to an operation command value suppliedfrom a controller (not shown), thereby converting the DC power intothree-phase AC power for auxiliary devices.

The battery device 200 functions as a power source of the auxiliarydevice group 600. When the DC power supplied from the AC to DCconversion unit for loads 110 to the DC to AC conversion unit for ACloads 120, the DC to AC conversion unit for DC loads 160, and theauxiliary device group 600 is reduced, the battery device 200 dischargespower corresponding to the reduction of the DC power. This allows thebattery device 200 to supply the discharge power to the DC to ACconversion unit for AC loads 120, the DC to AC conversion unit for DCloads 160, and the auxiliary device group 600 when the railway vehicletravels in non-electric sections. In this case, the battery device 200functions as a power source of the AC load L_(AC), the DC load L_(DC),and the auxiliary device group 600.

The power conversion device for travel 300 includes, for example, acharging circuit for travel 310, an AC to DC conversion unit for travel320, a DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330, and a travel powercontrol unit 340.

The charging circuit for travel 310 includes, for example, a contactorK10 connected to a positive electrode line, a contactor K11 and aresistor r10 connected in parallel to the contactor K10, a contactor K12connected to a negative electrode line, and a contactor K13 and aresistor r11 connected in parallel to the contactor K12. The chargingcircuit for travel 310 also includes a coil (not shown) or the like forelectromagnetically operating the contactors K10, K11, K12, and K13. Thecharging circuit for travel 310 switches the contactors K10, K11, K12,and K13 between a non-conductive state and a conductive state under thecontrol of the travel power control unit 340. Upon start of the supplyof high-voltage AC power, the charging circuit for travel 310 firstswitches the contactors K11 and K13 to a conductive state. Thereafter,the charging circuit for travel 310 switches the contactors K10 and K12to a conductive state and switches the contactors K11 and K13 from theconductive state to a non-conductive state.

The AC to DC conversion unit for travel 320 is a switching circuitincluding a plurality of switching elements connected between a positiveelectrode line and a negative electrode line to which high-voltage ACpower is supplied. The AC to DC conversion unit for travel 320 is alsocalled a converter. The AC to DC conversion unit for travel 320 may beany one of a step-up converter, a step-down converter, and astep-up/step-down converter. The switching elements are IGBTs, but thepresent invention is not limited to this and other types of switchingelements may be used. Under the control of the travel power control unit340, the AC to DC conversion unit for travel 320 switches the switchingelements between a conductive state and a non-conductive state toconvert the high-voltage AC power supplied through the windings fortravel of the main transformer into DC power.

The DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330 is a switching circuitincluding a plurality of switching elements bridge-connected between apositive electrode line and a negative electrode line to which power issupplied. The DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330 is also called aninverter. The DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330 includes threepairs of switching elements on the upper and lower bridge sidescorresponding to three phases of the travel motor M. The switchingelements are IGBTs, but the present invention is not limited to this andother types of switching elements may be used. Under the control of thetravel power control unit 340, the DC to AC conversion unit for travel330 switches the switching elements of each phase of the travel motor Mbetween a conductive state and a non-conductive state to convert the DCpower into AC power for travel.

The travel power control unit 340 is realized by a processor such as aCPU executing a program stored in a program memory. In addition, some orall of these functional units may be realized by hardware such as LSI,an ASIC, or an FPGA.

The travel power control unit 340 operates, for example, by beingsupplied with the operating power of 100 V produced through conversionby the power conversion device for auxiliary power sources 100. Thetravel power control unit 340 controls the charging circuit for travel310, the AC to DC conversion unit for travel 320, and the DC to ACconversion unit for travel 330.

A battery device 200 is connected via a charging circuit 210 to powerlines which connect high-voltage DC power output terminals of thecharging circuit for travel 310 and high-voltage DC power inputterminals of the AC to DC conversion unit for travel 320. For example,the voltage of the discharge power of the battery device 200 may belower than the DC voltage generated by the AC power supplied to the ACto DC conversion unit for travel 320 and greater than the voltage of theDC power supplied to the DC to AC conversion unit for AC loads 120, butthe present invention is not limited to this.

The charging circuit 210 includes, for example, a contactor K1 connectedto a positive electrode line, a contactor K3 and a resistor r1 connectedin parallel to the contactor K1, and a contactor K2 connected to anegative electrode line. The charging circuit 210 also includes a coil(not shown) or the like for electromagnetically operating the contactorsK1, K2, and K3. The charging circuit 210 switches each contactor for DCpower between a non-conductive state and a conductive state. Upon startof the supply of the discharge power from the battery device 200, thecharging circuit 210 first switches the contactors K2 and K3 to aconductive state. Thereafter, the charging circuit 210 switches thecontactor K1 to a conductive state and switches the contactor K3 fromthe conductive state to a non-conductive state.

The charging circuit 210 switches the state of each contactor on thebasis of a manipulation by a manager such as a driver of the railwayvehicle. An emergency signal is provided to the charging circuit 210,for example, upon manipulation of a predetermined manipulation portion(not shown) on a master controller (not shown) which is manipulated bythe driver. The manipulation portion of the master controller is, forexample, an emergency button or the like which receives a manipulationof causing the railway vehicle to travel with the power discharged bythe battery device 200 in an emergency of the railway vehicle. Theemergency of the railway vehicle may include when no AC power issupplied from the power collector 400 to the railway vehicle due to anatural disaster such as an earthquake or a situation such as stoppageof an electrical substation, but the present invention is not limited tothis and the emergency may also include a failure of the railway vehicleor the like. Upon receiving an emergency signal, the charging circuit210 switches the state of each contactor from a power cut-off state to apower supply state.

In a state in which the contactor K1 or K2 and the contactor K3 in thecharging circuit 210 are controlled to be in a conductive state, thevoltage of the discharge power of the battery device 200 is appliedbetween a positive electrode line and a negative electrode lineconnected to the input terminals of the DC to AC conversion unit fortravel 330. The DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330 converts thedischarge power into three-phase AC power for driving the travel motor Mby performing a switching operation under the control of the travelpower control unit 340.

According to the power conversion system 1 described above, the batterydevice 200 is connected between the AC to DC conversion unit for loads110 and both the DC to AC conversion unit for AC loads 120 and the DC toAC conversion unit for DC loads 160 and the auxiliary device group 600is connected to the battery device 200, thereby allowing the batterydevice 200 to function as a power source of the auxiliary device group600. Therefore, according to the power conversion system 1, when therailway vehicle travels in non-electric sections, power can becontinuously supplied from the battery device 200 to the auxiliarydevice group 600 even though no power is supplied from the powercollector 400. As a result, according to the power conversion system 1,it is possible to suppress a reduction in power supplied to theauxiliary device group 600.

In addition, according to the power conversion system 1, the DC powersupplied from the battery device 200 is converted into three-phase ACpower by the three-phase AC power converter 622 to operate thethree-phase AC type auxiliary device 620, thereby enabling a reductionin the size of the system. That is, using the three-phase AC powerconverter 622 and the three-phase AC type auxiliary device 620 which canbe easily reduced in size, rather than supplying single-phase AC powerfrom the windings for loads 500 and 102 of the main transformer to asingle-phase AC type auxiliary device, it is possible to achieve areduction in the size of the system.

Further, according to the power conversion system 1, the battery device200 is connected between the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 andboth the DC to AC conversion unit for AC loads 120 and the DC to ACconversion unit for DC loads 160 such that, when the power supplied fromthe windings for loads of the main transformer to the AC to DCconversion unit for loads 110 is reduced, the battery device 200discharges power corresponding to the power reduction. Thus, the batterydevice 200 can supply the discharge power to the DC to AC conversionunit for AC loads 120 and the DC to AC conversion unit for DC loads 160.As a result, according to the power conversion system 1, it is possibleto suppress a reduction in power supplied to the AC load L_(DC) and theDC load L_(DC) of the railway vehicle.

Furthermore, according to the power conversion system 1, the AC to DCconversion unit for loads 110 includes a switching circuit including aplurality of switching elements 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, and 110 d, suchthat it is possible to stabilize the DC power output from the AC to DCconversion unit for loads 110. That is, the AC to DC conversion unit forloads 110 enables conversion into DC power with a smaller time variationthan a rectifier using diodes. Thus, according to the power conversionsystem 1, when the DC power supplied from the AC to DC conversion unitfor loads 110 to the DC to AC conversion unit for AC loads 120 and theDC to AC conversion unit for DC loads 160 is reduced, it is possible toquickly supply the discharge power from the battery device 200 to the DCto AC conversion unit for AC loads 120 and the DC to AC conversion unitfor DC loads 160.

Moreover, according to the power conversion system 1, it is possible tosupply the discharge power from the battery device 200 and therefore itis unnecessary to increase the capacitances of the capacitor 122 and thecapacitor 162 in consideration of a capacitance for compensating forabsence of the supply of power to the AC load L_(AC) and the DC loadL_(DC) when the railway vehicle passes through non-electric sections.

In addition, according to the power conversion system 1, DC power whichis output from the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 is controlledto be stabilized and the output DC power is then supplied to the batterydevice 200. Therefore, it is possible to charge the battery device 200without giving a large load to the charging resistance of the batterydevice 200.

Further, according to the power conversion system 1, it is possible todischarge the battery device 200 in an emergency to supply DC power tothe AC to DC conversion unit for travel 320. Thus, according to thepower conversion system 1, in an emergency, it is possible to allowtravel of the railway vehicle by driving the travel motor M using thedischarge power of the battery device 200.

Hereinafter, another example of the power conversion system 1 accordingto the embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing anexample of a power conversion system 1A according to the embodiment. Inthe power conversion system 1A, a battery device 200 is connected topower lines which connect an AC to DC conversion unit for travel 320 anda DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330. In addition, a chargingcircuit 210 is provided in the middle of power lines which connect thebattery device 200 and the power conversion device for travel 300. Inthe power conversion system 1A, the battery device 200 suppliesdischarge power to the DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330 when thecharging circuit 210 is switched to a power supply state in anemergency. Thus, in an emergency, the battery device 200 functions bothas a power source for the travel motor M and as a power source for anauxiliary device group 600.

According to the power conversion system 1A, it is possible to dischargethe battery device 200 in an emergency to supply DC power to the DC toAC conversion unit for travel 330. Thus, according to the powerconversion system 1, in an emergency, it is possible to allow therailway vehicle to travel by driving the travel motor M using thedischarge power of the battery device 200. In addition, according to thepower conversion system 1A, even in an emergency, it is possible tocontinuously supply power from the battery device 200 to the auxiliarydevice group 600 and therefore it is possible to continuously drive acompressor, a blower, or the like in the auxiliary device group 600.

Further, according to the power conversion system 1A, compared to whenthe discharge power is supplied to the AC to DC conversion unit fortravel 320, it is possible to suppress power loss in the AC to DCconversion unit for travel 320 and to use the power of the batterydevice 200 more efficiently. As a result, according to the powerconversion system 1A, it is possible to allow the railway vehicle totravel a longer distance in an emergency.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a power conversion system 1Baccording to the embodiment. The power conversion system 1B includes apower conversion unit for travel 350 into which the AC to DC conversionunit for travel 320 and the DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330 areintegrated. The power conversion unit for travel 350 functions toconvert high-voltage AC power supplied via the windings for travel ofthe main transformer into power for travel for driving the travel motorto generate a travel torque allowing travel of the railway vehicle andto supply the power for travel to the travel motor M. The powerconversion system 1B connects the battery device 200 to input terminalsof the power conversion unit for travel 350 via the charging circuit210.

According to the power conversion system 1B, even though the powerconversion unit for travel 350 is integrally constructed, there is noneed to connect the connecting lines between the battery device 200 andthe charging circuit 210 to the inside of the power conversion unit fortravel 350 and therefore, in an emergency, it is possible to allowtravel of the railway vehicle by discharging the battery device 200without changing the design of the power conversion unit for travel 350.

(Travel Mode Switching Procedure)

Another embodiment will be described hereinafter. A power conversionsystem 1 according to the other embodiment is different from that of theabove-described embodiment in that the travel mode of the railwayvehicle is switched between a first travel mode and a second travelmode. The following description will focus on this difference. The otherembodiment will be described with reference to the case in which it isapplied to the power conversion system 1 shown in FIG. 1.

The power conversion system 1 allows the railway vehicle to travel in anormal travel mode in a normal situation in which AC power is suppliedfrom the power collector 400. The normal travel mode is an example ofthe first travel mode. In the normal travel mode, the travel powercontrol unit 340 drives the switching elements in the DC to ACconversion unit for travel 330 on the basis of a carrier signal having apredetermined frequency (also referred to as a carrier frequency) tocause the travel motor M to generate a travel torque.

The power conversion system 1 allows the railway vehicle to travel in anemergency travel mode in an emergency situation in which no AC power issupplied from the power collector 400. The emergency travel mode, whichis an example of the second travel mode, is a travel mode in which powerloss is suppressed more than in the normal travel mode. In the emergencytravel mode, the travel power control unit 340 drives the switchingelements in the DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330 on the basis ofa carrier signal having a lower frequency than the predeterminedfrequency (also referred to as a carrier frequency) to cause the travelmotor M to generate a travel torque.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for switchingthe travel mode in the other embodiment. In a normal situation, thetravel power control unit 340 allows the railway vehicle to travel inthe normal travel mode (step S100). Here, the travel power control unit340 performs pulse width modulation (PWM) control according to amodulation signal and a carrier signal having a predetermined frequencyto control on/off of the switching elements in the DC to AC conversionunit for travel 330. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing examples of carriersignals, modulated waves, and PWM signals in normal and emergencysituations. The travel power control unit 340 generates a PWM signalshown in a graph (B1) on the basis of the modulation signal and thecarrier signal used in the normal situation having the predeterminedfrequency shown in a graph (A1). The travel power control unit 340controls on/off of the switching elements in the DC to AC conversionunit for travel 330 according to the PWM signal to supply AC power fortravel to the travel motor M.

The power conversion system 1 then determines whether or not theoverhead wire power has abnormally stopped (step S102). When themanipulation portion of the master controller is manipulated, the powerconversion system 1 may determine that the overhead wire power hasabnormally stopped, but the present invention is not limited to this.The power conversion system 1 may also determine that the overhead wirepower is abnormal when a sensor (not shown) provided in the powerconversion device for travel 300 or a voltage sensor (not shown) fordetecting the voltage applied to the main transformer has detected thatthe voltage of the overhead wire power has dropped below a specificationrange.

When the overhead wire power has abnormally stopped, the powerconversion system 1 switches the charging circuit 210, which is for usein an emergency, to a conductive state (step S104). This allows thedischarge power of the battery device 200 to be supplied to the AC to DCconversion unit for travel 320 via the charging circuit 210.

The travel power control unit 340 allows the railway vehicle to travelin the emergency travel mode (step S106). Here, the travel power controlunit 340 performs PWM control according to the modulation signal and theemergency carrier signal having a lower frequency than the carriersignal used in the normal situation to control on/off of the switchingelements in the DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330. The travelpower control unit 340 generates a PWM signal shown in a graph (B2) onthe basis of the emergency carrier signal and the modulation signalshown in a graph (A2). The travel power control unit 340 controls on/offof the switching elements in the DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330according to the PWM signal to supply AC power for travel to the travelmotor M.

In the normal travel mode, the DC to AC conversion unit for travel 330may be controlled by a PWM signal rising and falling five times fromtime T1 to T2 as shown in the graphs (A1) and (B1) in FIG. 7. On theother hand, in the emergency travel mode, the DC to AC conversion unitfor travel 330 may be controlled by a PWM signal rising and fallingtwice from time T1 to T2 as shown in the graphs (A2) and (B2) in FIG. 7.

According to at least one of the embodiments described above, thebattery device 200, which is connected to power lines connecting the DCpower output terminals of the AC to DC conversion unit for loads 110 andthe DC power input terminals of both the DC to AC conversion unit for ACloads 120 and the DC to AC conversion unit for DC loads 160, and theauxiliary device group 600, which is connected to power lines connectingthe power conversion device for auxiliary power sources 100 and thebattery device 200 and which is configured to operate with powersupplied from the battery device 200, are provided and therefore it ispossible to suppress a reduction in power supplied to the auxiliarydevices of the railway vehicle even when no AC power is supplied fromthe power collector 400.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described, theseembodiments have been set forth as examples without the intention tolimit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be practiced invarious other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changescan be made without departing from the nature of the invention. Theembodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope andnature of the invention and are also similarly included in the inventiondescribed in the claims and equivalent scopes thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power conversion system comprising: atransformer configured to step down power from an overhead wire; a firstpower conversion circuit for travel connected between a secondarywinding of the transformer and a travel motor configured to allow travelof an electric vehicle, the power conversion circuit for travel beingconfigured to convert first alternating current power supplied via thesecondary winding of the transformer into power for travel for drivingthe travel motor; a first alternating current to a direct currentconversion circuit configured to convert second alternating currentpower supplied via a tertiary winding of the transformer into directcurrent power; a second power conversion circuit for alternating currentloads connected between the first alternating current to the directcurrent conversion circuit and an alternating current load which iselectrically isolated from the travel motor, the second power conversioncircuit for alternating the current loads being configured to convertthe direct current power produced through conversion by the firstalternating current to the direct current conversion circuit intoalternating current power for driving an alternating current loadmounted in the electric vehicle and to supply the alternating currentpower to the alternating current load; a third power conversion circuitfor direct current loads connected between the first alternating currentto the direct current conversion circuit and an alternating current loadwhich is electrically isolated from the travel motor, the third powerconversion circuit for direct current loads configured to convert thedirect current power produced through conversion by the firstalternating current to the direct current conversion circuit into thedirect current power for driving a direct current load mounted in theelectric vehicle and to supply the direct current power to the directcurrent loads; an electrical storage circuit connected to a first pairof power lines which connect a direct current power output terminal ofthe first alternating current to the direct current conversion circuitand a direct current power input terminal of the second power conversioncircuit for alternating current loads, the electrical storage circuitbeing connected to a second pair of power lines which connect the directcurrent power output terminal of the first alternating current to thedirect current conversion circuit and the power conversion circuit fordirect current loads; and an auxiliary circuit connected to the firstpair of power lines, the second pair of lines, and the electricalstorage circuit, the auxiliary circuit being configured to operate withpower supplied from the electrical storage circuit.
 2. The powerconversion system according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary circuit isconfigured to operate with three-phase alternating current power, andthe power conversion system further comprises a fourth power conversioncircuit for the auxiliary circuit configured to convert power suppliedfrom the electrical storage circuit into the three-phase alternatingcurrent power and to supply the three-phase alternating current power tothe auxiliary circuit.
 3. The power conversion system according to claim1, wherein the electrical storage circuit is configured to dischargepower corresponding to a reduction in power supplied from the tertiarywinding of the transformer to the first alternating current to thedirect current conversion circuit when the reduction of the power hasoccurred.
 4. The power conversion system according to claim 1, whereinthe electrical storage circuit is connected to a power line connectingthe first power conversion circuit for travel and the secondary windingof the transformer, a contact circuit configured to be switched betweena power cut-off state and a power supply state is provided in a middleof the power line connecting the first power conversion circuit fortravel and the secondary winding of the transformer, and the electricalstorage circuit is configured to supply discharge power to the firstpower conversion circuit for travel when the contact circuit has beenswitched to the power supply state.
 5. The power conversion systemaccording to claim 4, further comprising a manipulation portionconfigured to receive a manipulation of causing the electric vehicle totravel with power discharged by the electrical storage circuit when theelectric vehicle is in an emergency, wherein the contact circuit isconfigured to be switched from the power cut-off state to the powersupply state upon receiving the manipulation by the manipulationportion.
 6. The power conversion system according to claim 5, furthercomprising a travel power control circuit configured to switch a travelmode between a first travel mode, in which the travel power controlcircuit drives switching elements in the first power conversion circuitfor travel based on a carrier signal having a predetermined frequency tocause the travel motor to generate a travel torque in a normal situationin which the electric vehicle is not in an emergency, and a secondtravel mode in which the travel power control circuit drives theswitching elements based on a carrier signal having a lower frequencythan the predetermined frequency to cause the travel motor to generate atravel torque, wherein the travel power control circuit is configured toswitch the travel mode to the second travel mode when the electricvehicle is in an emergency.
 7. The power conversion system according toclaim 1, wherein the first power conversion circuit for travel includesa second alternating current to the direct current conversion circuitconfigured to convert the first alternating current power into directcurrent power and a direct current to an alternating current conversioncircuit configured to convert the direct current power produced throughconversion by the second alternating current to the direct currentconversion circuit into the power for travel, the electrical storagecircuit is connected to a power line connecting the second alternatingcurrent to the direct current conversion circuit and the direct currentto the alternating current conversion circuit, a contact circuitconfigured to be switched between a power cut-off state and a powersupply state is provided in a middle of the power line connecting thesecond alternating current to the direct current conversion circuit andthe direct current to the alternating current conversion circuit, andthe electrical storage circuit is configured to supply discharge powerto the direct current to the alternating current conversion circuit whenthe contact circuit has been switched to the power supply state.